Hershel
Borrowed from Yiddish הירשעל (hirshel), a diminutive of הירש (hirsh, “deer, buck”).
Every Hershel since 1880 — 10,334 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Hershel
Hershel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,692 in 2025 with 48 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 10,334 American babies have been named Hershel. Its peak came in 1924, when 226 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Hershel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Hershel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 48 | #2,692 |
| 2024 | — | — | 49 | #2,685 |
| 2023 | — | — | 52 | #2,556 |
| 2022 | — | — | 47 | #2,768 |
| 2021 | — | — | 32 | #3,531 |
| 2020 | — | — | 38 | #3,042 |
| 2019 | — | — | 31 | #3,594 |
| 2018 | — | — | 36 | #3,195 |
| 2017 | — | — | 38 | #3,090 |
| 2016 | — | — | 40 | #2,948 |
| 2015 | — | — | 49 | #2,539 |
| 2014 | — | — | 41 | #2,861 |
| 2013 | — | — | 39 | #2,911 |
| 2012 | — | — | 35 | #3,194 |
| 2011 | — | — | 47 | #2,602 |
| 2010 | — | — | 30 | #3,568 |
| 2009 | — | — | 30 | #3,589 |
| 2008 | — | — | 44 | #2,763 |
| 2007 | — | — | 42 | #2,836 |
| 2006 | — | — | 35 | #3,107 |
| 2005 | — | — | 52 | #2,277 |
| 2004 | — | — | 40 | #2,663 |
| 2003 | — | — | 33 | #2,954 |
| 2002 | — | — | 30 | #3,042 |
| 2001 | — | — | 23 | #3,661 |
| 2000 | — | — | 32 | #2,831 |
| 1995 | — | — | 28 | #2,646 |
| 1990 | — | — | 25 | #2,650 |
| 1985 | — | — | 31 | #1,887 |
| 1980 | — | — | 30 | #1,879 |
| 1975 | — | — | 40 | #1,389 |
| 1970 | — | — | 46 | #1,230 |
| 1965 | — | — | 57 | #980 |
| 1960 | — | — | 62 | #969 |
| 1955 | — | — | 99 | #735 |
| 1950 | — | — | 113 | #660 |
| 1945 | — | — | 127 | #530 |
| 1940 | — | — | 154 | #466 |
| 1935 | — | — | 180 | #410 |
| 1930 | — | — | 200 | #416 |
| 1925 | — | — | 180 | #448 |
| 1920 | — | — | 194 | #432 |
| 1915 | — | — | 141 | #463 |
| 1910 | — | — | 25 | #574 |
| 1905 | — | — | 23 | #471 |
| 1900 | — | — | 13 | #712 |
| 1895 | — | — | 9 | #762 |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,068 |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #1,009 |
| 1880 | — | — | 5 | #976 |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hershel mean?
Borrowed from Yiddish הירשעל (hirshel), a diminutive of הירש (hirsh, “deer, buck”).
How popular is the name Hershel in 2025?
Hershel ranked #2,692 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 48 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Hershel?
10,334 babies have been named Hershel in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Hershel most popular?
Hershel peaked in 1924, when 226 newborns received the name.
Is Hershel a boy or girl name?
Hershel is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Hershel rising or falling?
Hershel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.